FIXTURE:
In 3 group stages, the 50 participants are reduced to 30, then 16, then 8. From then one, quarterfinals, semifinals, a match for 3rd place, and the final are played as one-on-one knockout matches.
In the group stages, matches consist of a fixed number of 6 games, players alternate in taking first turn. In the knockout stages, matches are played as "best of 7", again players alternate in taking first turn. Additionally, players in the knockout stages need to win at least two games more than their opponent. If this requirement isn't met, then additional games are played until it is.
1st Stage:
- 10 groups with 5 decks each.
- Decks are distributed into groups randomly.
- Best 3 decks of each group are promoted to next stage
- Groups are labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J.
2nd Stage:
- 6 groups with 5 decks each.
- Groups are labeled K, L, M, N, O, P
- Assignment of groups is determined by placement in first stage:
K: A1, B2, C3, D1, E3
L: A2, B3, C1, D2, E2
M: A3, B1, C2, D3, E1
N: F1, G2, H3, I1, J3
O: F2, G3, H1, I2, J2
P: F3, G1, H2, I3, J1
- Best 2 decks of each group are promoted to next stage. The 3rd-placed teams will be ranked according to their score. The first two decks in this ranking are promoted as well. The third and sixth deck play an additional match, the winner of which will gain promotion. The same goes for the 4th and 5th in this ranking.
3rd Stage:
- 4 groups with 4 decks each.
- Groups are labeled Q, R, S, T
- Assignment of groups is determined by placement in second stage:
Q: K1, N1, M3, x3d
R: O1, L2, P2, x3a
S: M1, P1, N2, x3c
T: L1, K2, O2, x3b
- Best 2 decks of each group are promoted to next stage
Quarterfinals:
Q1: Q1 - R2
Q2: R1 - Q2
Q3: S1 - T2
Q4: T1 - S2
Semifinals:
S1: Winner Q4 - Winner Q1
S2: Winner Q2 - Winner Q3
Third Place:
Loser S1 - Loser S2
Final:
Winner S1 - Winner S2
Group tables format:
Throughout the tournament, group tables use the same format. Here's the explanation of the abbreviations used:
M: Matches played
P: Points (2 points per won match, 1 point per draw)
GD: "Games difference" - games won minus games lost in all matches
G+: Games won in all matches
G-: Games lost in all matches
W: Matches won
D: Matches drawn
L: Matches lost
P is the main score. GD is used as a tiebreaker. If P and GD are identical, then I'll look at the matches between the tied decks. If these don't break the tie, I'll do an extra match to decide the ranking.
